Standards

Landscape Irrigation Best Management Practices

Together with recognized irrigation experts, the Irrigation Association has developed best management practices for turf and landscape. These BMPs are designed to:

Raise the bar for efficient water management.

Preserve water supplies and protect water quality.

Help stakeholders formulate and implement sound water policies, including appropriate codes and standards for effective water stewardship.

Help water purveyors, industry professionals and irrigation consumers make responsible and informed decisions about water use.

Each BMP includes a corresponding practice guideline that provides a template to establish specifications that address local needs. Practice guidelines are based on proven scientific and engineering principles.

2014 Landscape Irrigation Best Management Practices

The development of the 2014 Landscape Irrigation Best Management Practices was a collaborative effort between the Irrigation Association and the American Society of Irrigation Consultants to update and revise the original document, “Turf and Landscape Irrigation Best Management Practices,” originally published in 2002 and republished with minor revisions in 2005 and 2010.

The updated document identifies three best management practices for landscape irrigation:

Design the irrigation system to efficiently use water resources.

Install the irrigation system to meet the design criteria.

Manage landscape water resources to maintain a healthy and functional landscape.

The document also contains information in the appendix to provide further information about water budgeting, scheduling and procedures to inspect and commission an irrigation system.